Novartis publishes positive data for cancer drug

Novartis has revealed new clinical data which underlines the potential advantages offered by its Afinitor treatment for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.

The pharmaceutical company has published results from a phase III trial which gauged the effectiveness of its everolimus-based tablet therapy when compared to placebo.

It was found that Afinitor helped patients to more than double their likelihood of experiencing progression-free survival, when combined with best supportive care.

Herve Hoppenot, president of Novartis oncology, said: “With this study, Novartis continues to make progress towards our goal of providing patients with treatment options for this rare and hard-to-treat cancer.”

Afinitor has already received regulatory approval as a treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who have failed to see benefit from vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted therapy.

Last month, Novartis published results from a study which highlighted the efficacy of tobramycin inhalation powder among cystic fibrosis patients suffering from Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.